Trenching-machine.



No. 825,373. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. H. J. BENTSON.

TRENCHING MACHINE.

APEL'IGATION FILED NQV. 13. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 825,373. PATENTED JULY l0, 1906. H. J. BENTSON.

TRENGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

No. 825,373. PATENTED JULY l0, 1906. H. J. BENTSON.

TRENCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 825,373*l PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. H. J. BENTSON.

TRENGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

HANS J. BENTSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK C. AUSTIN,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRENCHlNG-NIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Application filed November 13, 1905. Serial No. 287,164.

T0 a/ZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS J. BENTsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Im rovements in Trenching Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a construction of trenching-machine comprising abody-frame carrying excavating devices and means for operating thetrenching devices and means for advancing the machine as a Whole as thework progresses, and more particularly to a trenching-machine providedwith excavating means arranged to reciprocate transversely to the lineof trench and a transversely-arranged guide for the excavating means.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of atrenching-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevationof the machine, illustrating the same supported u on the ground-surfaceat opposite sides of t e trench-line. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation ofthe machine, showing the steering-wheels on the ground-surface ahead ofthe forward end ofthe trench shown in Fig. 2 the trench in Fig. 3 beingindicated by dotted lines'. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, the sectionbeing on line 4 4 in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail, the sectionbeing on line 5 5 in Fig. 6. Fig. 6is a top plan view of the forward endportion of the machine.

The main frame or body of the machine is constructed with a base A,comprising a pair of longitudinally-extending spaced sides 1 1, rigidlyconnected together by transverse frame portions 2 and shown bearing uponthe ground-surface and arranged similar to a pair of long sled-runners.

The excavating means comprises a pair of connected reciprocativeoppositely-faced excavating-shovels or similar excavating devices B B,relatively arranged for cutting in opposite directions in alternationand guided to reciprocate transversely to the line of ditch and line ofprogression of the machine. These shovels are guided by atransverselyarranged guide C, which is adapted to conform to thetransverse contour of the trench, as illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein theshovels are understood to have formed a ditch or trench 8, in which theguide Chas been lowered to an extent pro ortional to the depth of theexcavation. T e guide C is supported by a vertically-movable platform ormemberv D and is rovided wlth extension ortions 4 4, whiclli overhangthe ground-surface at opposite sides of the trench, so as to per mit theshovels to discharge at suitable oints. The member D can be raised andowered b any suitable raising and lowering means. Xs shown, verticalrack-bars 5 have their lower ends hinged to the member D and their upperends arranged to engage gears 6 on longitudinally-arranged rotary shafts7. These shafts are operated from a transverselyarranged rotary shaft 8,Fig. 2, by suitable gearing, a gear member 9 of which is shown 1n Fig. 1engaging a bevel-gear 10 on one of the shafts 7. The shaft 8 is shownconnected with a lower rotary shaft 11 by a link belt 12 and suitablesprockets therefor, and the shaft 11 is in turn driven from a sprocketor belt wheel on the engine-shaft by a chain or belt 13. The'shovels arereciprocated by cable portions E E of a cable attached to the shovelsand extending in different directions therefrom, the cable portion Ebeing extended to and trained over an idler 15 on the outer end of oneof the guide extensions 5, and the other cable portion E being extendedto and trained over an idler 16 on the other guide extension 4. Fromthese idlers 15 and 16 the cable portions are extended inwardly toelevated idlers su ported on elevated portions of the main fiame andindicated by dotted lines 17 and 18 in Fig. 1, and from these idlers thetwo cable portions are extended down, respectively, to windingdrum 19and winding-drum 20, which are to be driven by the engine indirectionsto permit one drum to pay out its.allotted cable portion while the otherdrum winds up its allotted cable portion. Any known or suitablemechanicall driving connections lor devices can be employed, and theengine can be of any suitable or desired type, and hence I have onlypartially illustrated an engine or motor, as at F. The uprlght frameportion A, which supports the upper shafts and gearing for raising andlowering the transverse guide, is arranged upon the rear portion of baseA of the body-frame, and the engine or motor employed is arranged upon arigid platform 21, which is forward of the upright frame portion A. andadapted to form a part of the forward portion of the base A of thebody-frame.

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With this arrangement the transverse guide C is back of the engine andsupported by the rear portion. of the body-frame. When, therefore, themachine is at work, the rear portions of the runner-like slides 1 of thebody-frame will be supported upon the ground-surface at opposite sidesof a trench formed by the excavating-shovels, while the forward portionsof these slides 1 will be supported upon the ground ahead of the forwardend of the trench, and therefore forward of the point where, the shovelsare engaged in extending the excavation. The weight of the forwardportion of the body andthe weight of the engine and other devices on theforward portion of the body are thereby sustained by the solid earthforward of the excavation, whereby caving in of the banks is avoided.

Meansshown for advancing the machine comprisesl a couple of shoes G,arranged one at each side of the forward portion of the Inachine. InFig. 1 the shoe G is connected by a two-membered toggle H with the upperportion of a-standard 22, arranged upon the forward portion of thebody-frame and suitably braced. The lower arm or member 23 of the togglehas its lower end pivotally attached to the shoe G, and the upper arm ormember 24 of the toggle has its upper end pivoted upon the upper portionof the standard 22. The upper toggle-arm 24 is rigid with a sector-gear25 which swings with said arm and which is operated by a pinion 26 forthe purpose of swinging the arm in a direction to straighten thetoggle,vthe bending action of the latter being permitted or caused by areverse movement on the part of pinion 26. The pinion 26 is fixed on arotary shaft 27, extending through a bearing in or on standard 22 andhaving its inner end provided with a sprocket or belt wheel 28, which isconnected by an endless chain or belt 29 with a sprocket or belt pulley30, fixed on a transverse shaft 31. This shaft 31 can be connected withand disconnected from a rotary power-driven shaft by a clutch 32. Theshoe and toggle and devices for supporting and operatingv the toggle atthe side of the machine shown in Fig. 1 are duplicated at the oppositeside of the machine and designated by corresponding referencenumerals,and hence a description of these devices at one side will answer forboth sets. The shoe G (shown in Fig. 1) Vis also connected with thestandard 22 by a spring 33, which extends back from the latter, the shoeat the opposite side of the machine being also connected with thestandard at such side by a like arrangement of spring. The shoes,toggles, and adjuncts form walking devices, the body-frame being raisedby straightening the toggles, so as to relieve it from bearing heavilyupon the ground or a track thereon, whereby the body will then pitchforward and again bend the to gles when the latter are released, and thes oes will be again drawn forward by the sp Us. The shoes G are alsoahead of the end of the trench, and hence ahead of the transverse guideand excavating devices.

Obviously a machine of this character involves considerable resistanceto power applied for turning it to the right or left, as

-may be desired. To overcome such difficulty, the body of the machine isprovided at its forward end with a forwardly-projecting extension-frameI, provided with an axle K, having inclined steering-wheelsL, arrangedinupwardly-converging planes. The axle K is pivoted to the lower end of aking-bolt 34.

(Illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and further illustrated, partlyin elevation and partly in longitudinal section, in Fig. 5.) Thekingbolt extends from the axle upwardly through the bolster 35, to whichit is attached by an ordinary swivel connection. Longitudinallyarrangedside bars 36 have their forward ends bolted to the transversely-arrangedbolster 35, the rear ends of the bars 36 being suitably secured to atransversely-arranged bar 37, whereby the bars 36 and 37 and the bolster35 form the rectangular frame I, which projects forwardly from theforward end of the bodyframe of the machine. The side bars 36 of theframe I are hinged upon a bearing on the main frame by atransversely-arranged horizontal pivot 38, which, as best shown in Fig.6, extends through and-beyond the side bars 36 of the frame I and hasits projecting ends journaled Vin bearings 39 on the longitudi-4nally-arranged frame-bars 40, which project forwardly from the platform21, the rear end portions of said bars 40 being securely bolted downupon the said platform. The frame I can tilt about the axis of thetransversely-ar- IOO ranged pivot-rod 38, the latter being about midwaybetween the front and rear ends of said tilting frame. To the rearcross-bar 37 forming the rear end portion of the tilting frame I, ishinged an upright rod 41, said rod being thus hinged at its lower end,as at 42. The rod 41 extends upwardly through an upright frame M, whichis secured and supported upon the forward end of the platform 21, saidframe being constructedr with suitable sides 44 and with an uppertransverse portion 45, which is provided with the opening 43, asillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The rod extends above the frame or bearingM and is provided at a point above said frame with a shoulder 46, which,as shown, is formed by a nut arranged for adjustmentA upon the upperthreaded end portion 47 of the rod. A coilspring 48 is arranged about aportion of the rod 41 and is confined between the shoulder 46 on the rodand an abutment formed by the upper portion of the upright frame M. Therear end portion of the frame I is supported by the spring 48, whichforms a spring-cush- IIO IIS

ion adapted` to yield when the steeringwheels run over an obstructionand-rise to an extent to raise the forward end-of the tilting frame I.The axle can be swung horizontally in either direction by steeringmeans, such as a wheel 49, secured u on the upper end of a rotary shaft50 on the fiont platform, said shaft being provided with a worm 51,arranged between the upper and lower portions of a bearing 52 on thelatform 21 and engaging a worm-wheel 53, ig.5 on a'transversely-arrangedrotary shaft 54, the shaft 54 being provided with end wheels or pulleys55, which connect with end portions of the axle by cables 56x Asillustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, one of said cables passes over one of thepulleys 55, while the other cable passes under the opposite pulley 55,and in this wa when the shaft 54 is turned one cable wil wind, while theother cable will unwind.

The inclination of the steering-wheels L permits them to take a firmhold in the ground, and thereby avoid side slip, and, as hereinbeforementioned, the weight of the forward portion of the body-frame,including the engine and the steering devices, will be upon the groundahead of the trench. The runners or sides 1 of the body-frame can, ifdesired, be supported upon planks or other tracks laid upon the groundat opposite sides of the trench-line, it being observed that to thus laytracks for a ditching-machine and in many instances greasing such tracksis an old and well-known expedient.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a trenching-machine,a body-frame;

i a transversely-arranged and vertically-adjustable guide supported-upon the rear portion of the body-frame, and reciprocating excavatingdevices directed in their movement transversely to the line of trench bysaid guide, which latter conforms to the transverse contour of thetrenchformed by the reciprocating excavating devices; an engine or motorsupported upon the forward portion of the body-frame power-transmittingconnection lbetween the engine and theexcavating devices; front'steering-wheels upon a horizontally-swinging axle and means foradjustably swinging the latter; the forward portion of the body-framewhich supports the engine and which is provided with said axle for thesteering-wheels being extended forward of the transverse guide andexcavatin devices to extend over the ground ahead o the end of a trenchwhich is being extended by the excavating devices.

2. In a trenching-machine, a body-frame; a transversely-arranged andvertically'- adjustable guide supported upon the rear portion of thebody-frame, and reciprocatingexcavating devices directed in the1rmovement transversely to the line of trench by said guide, which latterconforms to the transverse contour of the trench formed by thereciprocating excavating devices; an engine or motor sup orted'upon theforward portion of the body-fiame'; power-transmitting connectionbetween the engine and the excavating devices; inclined frontsteering-wheels arranged upon a horizontally-swinging axle and set inupwardly-converging planes, and means for adjustably swinging the axle;the forward portion of the body-frame supporting the engine and providedwith the steering-wheels being extended forward of the transverse guideand excavating devices to extend over the ground ahead of the forwardend of a trench which is being extended by the excavating devices.

3. In a trenching-machine, excavating devices and means forreciprocating the same transversely to the line of trench; a transverseguide for the excavating devices conforming to the transverse contour oftrench formed by the excavating devices; a bodyframe supporting thetransverse guide upon its rear portion; an engine su ported upon theforward portion of the ody frame; power-transmitting means between theengine and the excavating devices; and walking devices comprising shoesarranged alongside the forward portion of the body-frame whereon the enine is sup orted; toggles having lower mem ers hinged) to the shoes andupper members pivoted at higher points to bearings on the body-frame,said toggles being arranged to bend in directions forwardly from therear portion of the body-frame which carries t e transverse guide andexcavating devices; means for operating the toggles, and means fordrawing forward the shoes when the toggles are bent forward.

4. In a trenching-machine, a body-frame; a transversely-arranged guide;transverselyreci rocating excavating means directed by sai guide; anengine mounted upon the bodyframe forward of the excavating devices; atilting member supportedupon the forward portion of the bo y-frame andprovided at lts forward end portion with inclined steering-wheels; asprin device forming an elastic cushion oppose to the down tilt of theportion of the tilting member in rear of the 'axis about which it tilts;a transversely-arran ed rotary shaft provided with pulleys; cabIesextending from the pulleys to an axle supported by the steering-wheelsand fitted to the tilting frame; andan upright rotary operating-shaftconnected with the transversely-arranged pulley-shaft for actuating thelatter.

HANS J. BENTSON.` Witnesses:

CHAs. G. PAGE, O'r'rrLrE C. FREIBERG.

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